Originally Posted By amazedncal2 I have an emac. About a month ago it started freezing on me. No spinning wheel, just frozen so that I have to shut off the computer with the button on the side as my only option. It's not picky where or when it freezes. I'm not sure what to do now, I bought the clean up CD and that was pretty stupid because after installation the computer froze. I really don't want to take the whole computer to the Apple Store (we don't have one in our town) so I'm asking my LP friends if you think that is my only option. I'm writing this on our Gateway notebook
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Have you tried resetting the PRAM? Shutdown the eMac. Then start up again while holding the command (Apple key) + option key as well as the "P" and "R" key all at the same time. (Might need to have a second set of hands LOL) Here's more about it... <a href="http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86194" target="_blank">http://docs.info.apple.com/art icle.html?artnum=86194</a>
Originally Posted By avromark eMac? Isn't it time to upgrade to a Mac Pro? That said I used a G3 300 till 2004 The only thing I can think of, I was beaten too. Mac's seldom have problems at least. No Bomb? No Sad Face?
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Pulling this out of the DEEP resesses of memory. If your application freezes you can try a Shift-Apple-1 (or was it Shift-CTRL-1) to force quit the app and possibly get back to work. It's been *many* years since I've had a Mac freeze on me.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 Thanks everyone. I will try K2's suggestion tonight when DH is here to help me I used to be able to force quit by pressing apple/option and escape. Now nada, no way, no how. I'm actually finding myself wanting to see the spinning wheel of doom, at least something was still going on while I was yelling at that sucker.
Originally Posted By mapleservo I'm not an expert but it does sound more like a hardware problem to me. Here's a question. Do you have your important stuff backed up? If not, I'd do it now. Apple used to ship a sytem diagnostics cd with their systems that would help you figure out if there were any hardware issues. You could try to boot from that if you have one, and see what happens. You could also try disconnecting any peripherals you have hooked up, and see if that makes a difference. On the software side, do you know which version of the operating system you're using? There's a few different things you can try, but it depends on your version. I find "safe boot" in recent version of OSX fixes a ton of problems. That's usually the first thing I try. <a href="http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107393" target="_blank">http://docs.info.apple.com/art icle.html?artnum=107393</a> You could also try creating another user, and seeing if that user runs any better, but I can't see corrupt user files causing it to freeze like that.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan In doing a quick Google search on "eMac, freezing" it appears that this is a problem on eMacs produced during a specific time frame. Google that and you'll find numerous links.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 Thank you all again I tried K2's first suggestion and it didn't seem to work, but it got me working on the problem. Then in looking through my file folder for a diagnostics cd (thank you mapleservo)I came upon my applecare contract. Hey, I thought, I'll just phone up applecare and let them help me. 1 1/2 hours later my computer is not only freezing, I can't get past the log in screen! The girl finally said that she couldn't spend anymore time with me and to finish what we were trying and phone back! Soooo, after looking through my paper files and finding no informationon how to make an appt, I phoned the Apple store where we bought the computer and listened to their message telling me that they couldn't make an appt. over the phone, only online. I pulled out our Gateway notebook and went on apple.com, only to find out that you can only make an appt. THAT day because evidently even though I bought applecare, I don't have a sign in number for pro something so I can't set up an appt. for a day that I know I'll be able to take the computer in (I can't carry it, another reason to get a notebook next time.) I'll figure out some day that we are going to be going 1/2 hr. this way or 1/2 that way on the freeway and see if they can fit us in. I have a bad feeling about this I don't think I have backed up the computer for about 6 months. The only thing that is REALLY important on the computer are my photos. Thanks again and thanks for listening I'll let you know the outcome. Back up your computers everyone!
Originally Posted By avromark There's a way I forget what the key combo is, but it basically turns your Mac into a "external Harddrive" so you can "mount" it on your Gateway (you may need drivers), then you can look at the harddrive and copy it over to your other computer. After that you can do a clean install and have a working eMac again. Perhaps another Apple user (Deb and Kar2oony I'm looking at you two) remember what it is. Maybe it's time to invest on an external hard drive to save your files on. Then you can access them with any computer.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad What... Is an eMac? I'm having no problems whatsoever with my iMac. Runs Windows better than any PC and OSX is flawless for MY needs.
Originally Posted By ReadingMom I think eMacs were build more for schools. That's all my kids' elementary school had. It's pretty much like an iMac but maybe a little bigger. We have an e-Mac, iMac, PowerMac and MacBook. They all work great.
Originally Posted By avromark The old iMac's not the one your thinking of. An eMac was originally made for the school market, it's a 17" CRT (Tube) version that had a slightly slower processor then the first and second generation iMac flat Panels (The one that had the round base), e stood for educational, but the Mac Mini and lowered iMac prices pretty much killed the eMac, I think G4 was the last generation.
Originally Posted By avromark <a href="http://mikepiontek.com/journal/uploads/emac.jpg" target="_blank">http://mikepiontek.com/journal /uploads/emac.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By mapleservo I did the google Kar2oonMan mentioned and realized that it's probably the "bad capacitor" problem. A friend of mine had the same problem with a G5 iMac and Apple fixed it good-as-new under warranty. I think it's +$1000 fix otherwise. Apple's had enough problems with this that they are extending support for some serial numbers. <a href="http://www.apple.com/support/emac/repairextensionprogram/" target="_blank">http://www.apple.com/support/e mac/repairextensionprogram/</a> I've also heard they are repairing some outside of these serials as well. Hope you can get it all fixed up. avromark, are you thinking of "Firewire Target Mode?" <a href="http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58583" target="_blank">http://docs.info.apple.com/art icle.html?artnum=58583</a> That's the only thing I can think of, but I think it only works between Macs.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 You all are so nice, who needs the genius bar when we have LPers Here is an interesting thing that I forgot to mention. My disc drive door is also now clamped shut. I put in a start up disc per instructions from the tech yesterday now that is frozen too It's getting to be kind of funny. I can laugh now because we have the notebook to use and I still don't know the fate of my pictures. So, while we are waiting at the Apple Store, when I make my appt., which notebooks should I be checking out for future purchase? My use for the home computer is: I go on LP, buy online,pay bills, search online for info. and deals, email, use iphoto and word. That is about it. I'll let you know what happens with my eMac. We bought the e because it was a special buy just before the i came out. Since I was just using it for home stuff the salesperson said the e was a good deal. It was until now.
Originally Posted By avromark I believe eMacs have a little hole beside the drive that allows you to manually eject the disc with a paper clip. But I'm not sure if this model has that feature. If you've gotten your money out of it so far, it should be fine, and if you can get it fixed (provided the hardware is not failing) it can still be a good computer when you reinstall.
Originally Posted By mapleservo I don't know if this would work in your case or not, but you generally can hold your mouse button down when your computer is starting up and it will automatically eject the CD.
Originally Posted By Labuda "which notebooks should I be checking out for future purchase? My use for the home computer is: I go on LP, buy online,pay bills, search online for info. and deals, email, use iphoto and word. That is about it. " I'd compare a new Apple with a new Dell Latitude. Based on your usage pattern, I think of the Dell models (which I'm most familiar with, of course), the business-oriented Latitude would be your best bet. So, compare that with what Apple can offer and then go with whichever you like better.
Originally Posted By avromark <<I'd compare a new Apple with a new Dell Latitude. Based on your usage pattern, I think of the Dell models (which I'm most familiar with, of course), the business-oriented Latitude would be your best bet.>> I don't know if I went with Dell personally I'd always go with the Latitude, but that's just me.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 Update on my emac Well after taking the monster into the AppleStore and talking with a tech, I left it there with the knowledge that the logic board would probably be replaced with the possiblilty of the hard drive also being replaced. The tech was nice and assured me that my emac would be returned in perfect shape or I'd get a phone call explaining any glitches. I also left my "restore" CD's so that I wouldn't have to do anything other than plug in the cords when the emac came home. The mac was ready in 3 days, when I picked it up there was some paperwork with it that indicated that the logic board was replaced but no other info. Just "here's your emac"........as his co-worker laughed and exclaimed "oh my gosh, is that an EMAC!!!" Great, get me out of this store! Anyway, so we get it home and it's not freezing anymore but I can't get online, no Safari, no itunes Whatever, I'm used to the Gateway notebook now and at least my iphoto is there. So, I ignored it for a week. Today after being on the phone with a VERY nice tech for over an hour my computer is finally back in working order. As we were waiting for the computer to do this or that she even offered some advice on tutorials for me She also told me that there had been something wrong with the video streaming and something had expanded. Along with the tech who helped me when I brought my dinosaur into the store I had now dealt with two Apple employees who didn't make me feel like an idiot I was a happy camper. I still had to spend about an hour re downloading a bunch of updates, Safari did quit on me once but so far, so good. I'd like to thank you all again for all your advice and support. You guys are great
